A-Rod and others in new PED report

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It's like baseball, in some ineffable but powerful way, is compelling us-- like it wants us-- to root for the asshole against "the game."

[metirish]

Dempster gets suspended for five games but of course he might not even miss a start with the way things are shaping up.....how fucking stupid is that?

[MFS62]

Gabe Kapler chimes in about roids in BP.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21574#commentMessage

Later

[Vic Sage]

Who cares what Mr. Kotter thinks about 'Roids?

[Benjamin Grimm]

[metirish]

Vic Sage wrote: Who cares what Mr. Kotter thinks about 'Roids?

Christ, I opened the link, yo kow it's all bullshit when the author spends the first several paragraphs explaining why he was so bulked up during his career.....

[dgwphotography]

metirish wrote: Vic Sage wrote: Who cares what Mr. Kotter thinks about 'Roids? Christ, I opened the link, yo kow it's all bullshit when the author spends the first several paragraphs explaining why he was so bulked up during his career.....

and that he started losing weight and strength in his twenties due to lack of testosterone. Either he had an undisclosed medical issue, or he juiced...

[Edgy MD]

Sorry to dig up this ol' thread and link to Deadspin, but the A-Rod hearing is happening and it's important and stuff.

[Lefty Specialist]

Even his pocket square has been juicing.

[Ceetar]

[Frayed Knot]

I haven't been following the details recently of this whole mess, but ARod's imitation of Al Pacino today; THIS WHOLE TIAL IS OUT OF ORDER, followed by his lengthy post-outburst press statement, seemed pre-planned if you ask me. That Selig wasn't going to be there, the thing that is seemingly pissing Sir Alex off, had to nave been known by his team and the storming out and saying, to the arbitrators, ah, just do what you want but WE aren't going to put up with this was just designed to take the heat off of them and throw it to MLB's side. I caught only seconds of his visit w/Francesa but Rodriguez was playing the angry, innocent man role quite well.

Having said all that, the one thing I've been saying all along here is that Selig can't afford to swing and miss on this one. If this 211 game suspension (still don't know how he came up with that number) gets wiped out or even if it's merely knocked down to the standard 50 (ARod is still technically a first offender here) then it's going to look like a victory for camp AR while Bud is going to look real weak on his way out the door.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Pre-planned? Ya think?
I can't help but imagine if this was all going on and he was
on the Mets. There were so many outraged people that he
was never landed years ago. I can't look at him without
wanting to spit.

[Ceetar]

Kong76 wrote: Pre-planned? Ya think? I can't help but imagine if this was all going on and he was on the Mets. There were so many outraged people that he was never landed years ago. I can't look at him without wanting to spit.

never would've happened with the Mets (nevermind that the Mets aren't are run a little big smoother, and with a wee bit more compassion. not much, but the Yankees set a low bar)

things would've been different, but it just never would've evolved that way. Sure, he still would've cheated, just like all the other players who are still cheating and not getting caught because they picked doctors better at covering their tracks, but he never would've gotten a 10 year contract with opt-outs and the Mets wouldn't have then redoubled his contract in 2007. He'd probably still be a Yankee now, them having picked him up after the Mets realized playing an aging player with no DH was a bad idea, ala Piazza.

[metirish]

The lawyer for Rodriguez doing the full on media charm . I would love to see Selig in the witness seat though , fuck him too.

[Frayed Knot]

metirish wrote: I would love to see Selig in the witness seat though , fuck him too.

Sure, but we wouldn't see it anyway (these arb hearings aren't generally open to the public) and there's still the whole matter of Team ARod pretending that there's something that would come out in the hearing if Bud were testifying that wouldn't come to light with Rob Manfred, Bud's #2 guy, as the point man for the league. This being insulted (or surprised) that Bud wasn't going to be forced to show (he never is part of these from what I understand) sounds more like an excuse to bolt the proceedings (thereby not testifying himself) than it does an actual legal complaint. That ARod embellishes it with his whole, 'Bud hates me/Bud hates New York' song and dance doesn't add to his credibility.

Now if this ever got to a full blown legal case then Selig could be compelled to testify and it would become must-see theatre.
But, again from what I hear, these kinds of cases generally don't go to trials because, short of evidence of flat-out perjury or a blatant disregard for the rules in the hearing, judges tend to look at cases like this and say: 'Hey, it was binding arbitration that your union and your employer agreed to ... I'm sorry you didn't like the result but, again, note the binding adjective here'.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Guest

[Lefty Specialist]

Wonder if that interview with Mike F was planned, too...

"Mike, I'll be throwing a hissy-fit for the ages and I'll talking to you about 10 minutes later. Make sure your schedule is clear."

[MFS62]

Somewhere, Marvin Miller is laughing his ass off.
Later

[Ceetar]

caught some of A-Rod's lawyer on with the WFAN guys this morning. Guy sounds like a real sleezeball, so I like Alex's chances.

I didn't realize that whoever stole the documents tried to bribe A-Rod with them first. Are we sure this isn't the first couple of episodes of the new 24 season?

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Wonder if that interview with Mike F was planned, too...

Seeing as how, at the same time that ARod and one lawyer were talking with Mike F., another one of his lawyers was across town talking to Michael Kay on his talk show, I'm going to venture a 'Yes' on that.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Wonder if that interview with Mike F was planned, too... Seeing as how, at the same time that ARod and one lawyer were talking with Mike F., another one of his lawyers was across town talking to Michael Kay on his talk show, I'm going to venture a 'Yes' on that.

Lawyer this morning kept saying he was offended when Carton kept insisting that. But yeah, seems likely. Maybe they didn't plan it quite when/how it happened, but simply as a planned reaction when/if Selig didn't show.

[Frayed Knot]

They knew in advance that Selig wasn't showing.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: They knew in advance that Selig wasn't showing.

Sounds like they thought they could pressure him into showing. The lawyer said that he thought he'd show, and even the PA lawyers thought so. But yeah, my guess is that they planned the hissy fit in reaction to him ultimately not showing, knowing that that's probably how it would go, but are spinning it as not being planned because it was Bud's decision not to show up that started it.